Candidates For State Reps. Have Varying ViewsDistrict 22 candidates Curt Nisly, incumbent, and Bill Dixon; and District 18 candidates Russ Reahard and Craig Snow took part in a candidate forum Friday hosted by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and Kosciusko Bar Association.
District 18 State Rep. Dave Wolkins is retiring and did not seek re-election this year.
In introducing himself, Dixon, 54, said he wants to be a state representative “so we can have a team player in Indianapolis” with everyone pulling together. Nisly said he’s been the District 22 representative for three terms.
Reahard said he cares about roads, schools and health care and wants a lean state budget. Snow currently works at Silvius Insurance Group and is a member of several community board of directors.
The eight questions to the candidates were answered on a rotating basis. Their answers here are presented by district.
Question 1 asked, “In your opinion how is the state doing regarding COVID-19 and the health of our citizens and what, if any, changes need to be implemented?”
Dixon said the state’s response to COVID-19 is good as we do not have as many people in the hospital suffering from the disease as other states. He said hospitalization numbers are the only way to measure success. His advice was to stay nimble and stay informed.
Nisly said COVID-19 has presented a challenge. His opinion is the governor’s response to the crisis has been worse than the virus itself.
Reahard said our whole society is upset. He congratulated first responders and nurses and President Trump for stopping air travel from China when he did. He said our state has done a super job protecting the vulnerable and wishes there were more doctors talking about the herd immunity.
Snow said overall the state has done a fantastic job managing this situation. He’s thankful the governor is opening things back up. He said people in his business are working from home and it’s very favorable to get people back to work to get the economy started again.
Prior to COVID-19, the economy was steamrolling with unemployment in the area under 3%. That has changed dramatically. The next question asked, “What suggestions, at the state level do you have to ensure we return to that economy as quickly as possible?”
Dixon said the way to steamroll an economy is to spur demand and put the supply behind it. The way to ease the unemployment rate is to help industry and business find fires behind the product. He suggested the state provide a clearing house of available contracts.
“The state unemployment office staff needs to reach out and find the available jobs; find out who can do those jobs and have a more active role in facilitating transactions,” Dixon said.
Nisly said “If you look back on my previous comments, this could’ve been avoided. We have to move forward from where we are now.”
He wondered how the state is going to survive.
Reahard noted there is a huge state surplus of $2 billion and, with $3 billion from the federal government, the state can lower business and individual taxes. He said people returning to work will stimulate the economy better than anything.
Snow said he’s proud of Indiana being one of the top states in terms of economics. He noted the many companies who switched from making their regular products to making ventilators, face masks and face guards. He said it’s this type of entrepreneur who will get things up and going again.
The next question asked the candidates what they thought their role was in representing their constituents.
Dixon said he’s learned there are two kinds of lawmakers: delegates and trustees. Trustees say they know better and they’ll represent their own personal, pet views. Delegates take the opinion of the people and put it to work. “I’d be a delegate,” he said.
Nisly agreed that there were delegates and trustees, but he said he was a trustee.
Reahard said he’s doing a good job in meeting his constituents.
“I want to be a facilitator,” he said, “so the state doesn’t impose regulations and taxes that people don’t want.”
Snow said his idea to best represent the people in Wabash and Kosciusko counties is by hearing them. He said one of his strengths in business is surrounding himself with smart people, listening to what they have to say, to talk through issue, debate things and let common sense prevail.
On education, the candidates were asked what they believe is the best path the state should take to ensure students receive the best education possible?
Dixon said the education system used to be based on the John Dewey model, turning out people who all did the same thing, with everyone going to work in a factory. In the last 20 years, it’s begun reinventing itself and now is modeled on what individual students want and need to succeed.
Nisly said people should be given responsibility and the ability to choose what best education is in Indiana and there are lots of different models.
Reahard said he likes giving parents a choice in education for their children. He noted we no longer teach that the body is sacred and that there are consequences to alternative lifestyles.
The fifth question was on drugs, including opioids, that continue to plague the nation. It asked candidates to describe the best approach the state should take to lower addictions and keep citizens as productive members of society.
Dixon said he would rely on science, not government to give the answers and Nisly agreed with him.
Reahard said the state should encourage everyone to learn life is sacred in schools so “people grow up to be productive and not be counter-productive to their health or lifestyle.”
Snow said he didn’t know how to prevent opioid addiction from happening and he feels like there isn’t enough education. He pointed to programs like Kosciusko County’s JCAP that could help.
According to a 2019 report by the Rand Corporation, Indiana has the most expensive healthcare in our region. During the last session, many bills were introduced to help lower the cost. The candidates were asked, “What additional measures, if any, should be taken by the state legislature to help lower costs to its citizens?”
Dixon said high healthcare costs are a radical function of supply and demand. Nisly said high costs are because of regulations. Reahard said we need to give incentives to lower the cost of treatment and provide cost-effective alternatives to healthcare. Snow said an incentive program to be healthier should lower costs and admitted he would need to learn a lot more about why costs are so high.
